Animal-assisted Therapy

Overview

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a structured, goal-directed intervention in which trained animals are incorporated into a treatment plan to support the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of people receiving care. Delivered as part of professional treatment, AAT uses interactions with animals such as dogs, horses, or other species to help achieve specific therapeutic goals. It is studied as a complementary approach for a range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and difficulties with social engagement. Reported benefits of animal-assisted therapy include increased motivation, reduced anxiety and stress, improved mood, and enhanced social interaction, with the animal often serving as a calming presence and a bridge to communication. Because it is integrated into broader behavioral and mental-health care, AAT is typically used alongside, rather than in place of, established treatments, and its effects are evaluated through research that examines outcomes and mechanisms. As a topic within Behavior Therapy And Mental Health, animal-assisted therapy reflects growing interest in human-animal interaction as a support for well-being. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to behavioral and mental-health interventions and the role of supportive, non-pharmacological approaches in care.

Research published in this journal

1 peer-reviewed article, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.

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